11.   Rumsfeld said he has stayed out of any decision-making on weapons programs and proposed defense industry mergers to avoid the appearance of a personal conflict of interest.

12.   Similar issues have arisen in a number of previous defense mergers, according to William Kovacic, an antitrust lawyer who teaches at George Mason University.

13.   That set off a wave of defense mergers, each one setting a revenue benchmark for firms that want to be major defense contractors.

14.   The Pentagon has encouraged defense company mergers recently, and has even agreed to help cover some costs.

15.   The newspaper said such reimbursements have been banned in the past to prevent taxpayers from subsidizing defense industry mergers and acquisitions.

16.   Two defense mergers are being reviewed by antitrust officials.